Photographic shutter.



No/679,84. Patented July 23, 1901. A. WOLLENSIAK.

PHOTUGRAPHIC SHUTTER.

(Application filed Jan. 25, I901.)

THE mmms PETERS cu, momuwo. WASHINGTON a. a

UNITED STATES PATENT ()rrrcn.

ANDREW WOLLENSAK, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

PHOTOGRAP HIC SHUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 679,134, dated July 23,1901.

Application filed January 25, 1901. Serial No. 44,730. (ModeL) To ctZZwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW WoLLENsAK,of Rochester, in the county ofMonroe and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Photographic Shutters,which improvement is fully set forth in thefollowing specification and shown in the accompanying drawings.

My invention is a photographic shutter for general work, the main objectof the invention being to produce such a device of simpler and fewerparts than many heretofore in use and a shutter that may be cheaplymanufac tured and furnished to the user at a comparatively low price.

The invention is hereinafter fully described, and more particularlypointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a front view of the device, andFig. 2 a rear view. Fig. 3 shows the interior of the device viewed fromthe rear, the rear plate or cover being removed, the various parts beingin normal positions for instantaneous exposures. Fig. 4 is a similarview showing the positions of the parts at the instant preceding theexposure for instantaneous work. Fig. 5 shows the normal positions ofthe sway arms and levers for bulb exposures. Fig. 6 shows the positionsassumed by the parts of the device during a bulb exposure. Fig. 7 showsthe normal positions of parts for time exposures. Fig. 8 shows thepositions assumed by the parts while a time exposure is in progress.Fig. 9 shows the positions of the interior parts immediately after thetermination of a time exposure. Fig. 10 is a cross-section of theactuating-lever, taken on the dotted line 10 in Fig. 7. Fig. 11 is asection of the exposurelever on the dotted line 11 in Fig. 4. Figs. 1and 2 are drawn full size, Figs. 3 to 9, inclusive, to a' scale one andone-half size, and Figs. 10 and 11 to larger scales.

Referring to the figures, A is a circular metallic case of common formfor inclosing the interior parts of the shutter covered in front by aplate B, Fig. 1, and at the rear by a plate 0, Fig. 2, both being formedwith central exposure-openings, the latter plate having a threadedflange a, of usual form, to screw onto the camera.

1), Figs. 6 and 8, is the central exposureopening through the shutter,adapted to be closed by pivotal overlapping blades 0 (Z, adjacent to andparallel with the inner face of the front plate B.

e is a pivotal actuating-lever for the interior parts, operated by anexterior thumb-lever D, Fig. 1, held pivotally, at t, to the plate B, inposition to be operated by the plunger of an air-pump E, of commonconstruction, secured to the front plate B. The thumb-lever D isprovided with a pin f, Figs. 1, 3, and 6, extending through a slot g inthe plate B, in position to engage the actuating-lever e and turn itupon the axial stud 71, into which the pivot-screw i of the thumb leverD is threaded. The lever D normally rests upon the pump-plunger, asshown in Fig. 1, but may be raised, as shown in Figs. 4E and 9, by thethumb of the operator or by bulb-pressure to tilt the actuating-lever e.

A master operating-lever F, Figs. 3 to 9,

is provided within the case, pivoted upon a stud m, rigid in the plateB. A slender spring 10, held upon the stud h, has two branches, oneengaging the lever e and the other engaging the lever F in a rest H,which spring tends to keep said levers in normal positions. (Shown inFig. 3.) The master-lever is formed with four branches, two at eitherend, each having an operating terminal, one, t, meeting the wall of thecase A, constituting a stop for the lever. The branch 0 is bent downwardat its end, as shown in Fig. 10, in position to be engaged by aprojecting part Z of the actuating-lever e, so when turned downward bythe thumb-lever, as stated, the master-lever will be carried with it, asclearly shown in Fig. 4.

The closing blades 0 d are pivoted, respectively, on studs 29 r, rigidwith the plate B, being immediately controlled by an exposurelever s, apin 25, rigid in said lever, engaging the blades between thepivot-bearings p 'r. The lever s, pivoted on a fixed stud u, is formedwith a projection or tip 'v in position to be engaged by the branch toof the masterlever as the latter is turned by the spring 70, as abovestated. The tip a; is inclined or slanted, as shown in Fig. 11, so thatwhen the branch to passes it by the action of the actuating-lever e theexposure-lever s will not be moved, the branch 10 yielding laterally andmerely gliding past the tip without affecting anything; but when the armor branch 10 moves toward the left it will tilt the lever .3, as shownin Fig. 6, and so open the blades 0 d to effect an exposure. Normallythe branch 10 of the master-lever stands to the left of the tip 1), (seeFig. 3;) but when the master-lever is depressed by the lever e thebranch will pass to the right of the tip, as shown in Fig. 4, withoutaffecting the exposure-lever s; but when the masterlever returns to itsnormal position by the action of the spring 7c the lever s will beturned, as appears in Fig. 6, and cause an instantaneous opening andclosing of the exposure-opening Z), the closing of the blades 0 61 beingeffected by the action of a spring as, actuating the lever s.

The levers e and F are eccentrically pivoted,on account of which thebearing between them shifts as they move together and finallyterminates, (see positions in Fig. 4,) the lat tcr lever being releasedand returned to its normal position by the spring 70. This releasing ofthe master-lever does not take place until after the branch to passes tothe right of the tip 12 of the levers, (see Fig. 4,) so that a return ofthe master-lever by the spring will serve to open the blades, as stated.When the actuating-lever e is depressed by the thumb-lever, the tensionof the spring 70 is materiallyincreased both as to its pressure againstthe actuating-lever and the masterlever F, the spring being free to turnon the stud h. As the levers c and F descend, the pressure of the springon the latter lever increases, so that by the time it is released orescapes from the lever e the spring will be sufficiently strained toreturn the lever F to its normal position by a quick motion,notwithstanding that in its return it encounters the resistance of thespringac on the exposurelevers. On account of this construction thespringk may be very light, which is desirable, as it renders theoperating of the shutter lighter to the touch than if a heavier singlespring were employed to control the masterlever. Normally the projectingpart Z of the lever e is above the branch 0 of the masterlever; but whenthe latter is released from the lever c, as stated, the terminal of thebranch 0 moves above the part Z, as appears in Fig. (5, and in returningto its normal relative position the part Z must crowd by the branch 0.This returning of the lever a when below the branch 0 is provided for,as shown in Fig. 10. The branch 0 bends normally down to be engaged bythe part l when moving toward the left, but when moving in the oppositedirection said part glides under the branch 0, the latter springingback, as indicated, to let it pass without affecting the mas- 6 5ter-lever.

The closing blades 0 (Z lap across each other and cross the verticaldiametrical line of the exposure-opening, see dot-and-dash line a a,Fig. 6,) one blade turning to the left and the other turning equally tothe right when an exposure is made. The blade d, which turns to theright, is pivoted at 'r on the left of said vertical line, and the blade0, which turns to the left, is pivoted at p at the right of said line,the two blades being independent of each other and having a shearmotion. The pin '6 of the exposure-lever s engages both blades at apoint on said line u it, midway between the pivots r p, turning eachblade independently and exactly alike to open or close theexposure-opening. This construction of the parts causes the partialopenings made between the blades during their forward and backwardmotions to be always central across the exposure-opening, as indicatedby dotted curved lines in Fig. 6. This is an important matter,particularly in instantaneous work, as it produces better results andmore accurate pictures are obtained, for when the blades thus evenlyopen and close the shaft of light from the object photographed is keptat all times during the two periods of the actual motions of the bladescentral upon the plate. If the blades were to open more rapidly at thetop, forinstance, and consequently close more tardily there,the upperpart of the plate would be exposed to the light much longer inproportion to the duration of the whole exposure than the lower part,which would necessarily result in an imperfect picture. For longerexposures-as in timework, for exam plethis difference in the manner offorming the opening would not beimportant,as all parts of the plate incase of theimperfect method of making the exposure would be exposedpractically during the same interval of time. The blades are confined attheir upper free ends in a rigid guide '21, which also constitutes astop for the blades,the latter being formed with shoulders, as shown inFig. 1,to meet the stud. This stop, being distant from thepivot-bearings of the blades and on the opposite side of the centers ofgravity of the blades from the bearings,prevents the blades fromreboundingand partially reopening the exposure when suddenly closed, asis liable to be the case when the stops and the pivotal bearings are onthe same side of the centers of gravity of the blades, as in someshutters.

For bulb exposures a sway-arm y is brought into use by turning a setterc, Fig. 1, the arm being held upon a pivot .2, rigid with the plate B.This setter, held to turn on a stud f, rigid with said plate, isprovided with a pin (1, Figs. 1, 3, and 5, reaching through a slot g inthe plate to engage a branch 7a of the arm. The latter is normally urgedto ward the right by a spring a, but is held and controlled by said pin(1. This arm is formed with a projection to and is curved at its freeend to engage and coact with the extreme end (See Figs. 3, G, and 8.) In

1) of the lever bulbwork the actions of the levers e, F, and s and ofthe blades 0 cl are the same as described for instantaneous work savethat when the lever F is released from the lever c it does notimmediately return, its branch 5 being caught under the projection a ofthe arm y. (See Fig. 6.) A complete return of the master-lever isnecessary to release the lever 3 and terminate the exposure, which iseffected by releasing the bulb and permitting the lever e to return toits place. In doing this said lever presses the concave part to of thearm, crowding the latter back to free the masterlever from theprojection a, which terminates the exposure, which actions of the partswillbe fully understood by viewing Fig. 6.- In these actions of theparts the actuating-lever e continuously controls the arm y, the controlof the master-lever by said arm being while the latter is permitted toturn to the right by the actuating-lever. The latter moves themaster-lever while turning in'one direction and the sway-arm whileturning in the opposite direction.

For time exposures the setter c, Fig. 1, is furtherturned to point to T,B and I, respectively, being indicated for bulb and instantaneous work.This further turning of the setter with its pin cl permits a secondsway-arm Figs. 5 and 6, to come into play, acting with the primary army, it being also pivoted on the stud z, independent of the levers e F.This arm 70' is formed with a projection Z and branch 11, the latter tobe engaged by the setting-pin d to control the arm, a spring 0 pressinga projection m of the arm serving to hold the latter normally to theright. In Fig. 7 is shown the normal positions of the two sway-arms, themaster-lever and the actuating-lever for timework, the setter beingturned to indicate T. In this position of the parts the projection Z ofthe secondary sway-armis adjacent to the branch 1" of the master-lever,the extreme end 19, Fig. 6, of said arm meeting the end I) of theactuating-lever being thus temporarily held back against the action ofthe spring 0. If now the thumb-lever be raised to effect an exposure,the parts will assume substantially the positions shown in Fig. 6; butupon releasing said lever said parts will take the positions shown inFig. 8. In this instance neither of the levers e F is in its normalposition, the former being caught under the bend, to of. the primarysway-arm and the lever F caught under the projection Z of the secondarysway-arm, the exposure thus continuing. To terminate the exposure, thethumb-lever, having returned about half-way to its normal position onthe pump, is again raised, which will release the master-lever, thisbeing effected by the descending lever e pressing a swell s of the armis, pushing the latter with its projection 1 back from the master-lever,all parts momentarily assuming the positions shown in Fig. 9. Areleasing now of the thumb-lever will permit the parts to again assumethe positions shown in Fig. 7 normal for timework.

The sway-arm 76 is formed with a terminal part 19, Figs. 4 and 6, which,when the parts are in position for timework, normally meets the end I)of the actuating-lever as a stop against the action of the spring 0.Beneath the part 19 is a recess 0, which permits of the arm 70 turningslightly toward the right when the lever e descends into position tohave the projection Z engage the master lever, as stated. In thesevarious actions of the swayarms and the actuating and master levers thearms'are engaged by the actuating-lever and in turn engage themaster-lever, said actions being alternated. Furthermore, themaster-lever is intermediate between the sway-arms or detents at one endof said lever and the exposure-lever at the opposite end of themaster-lever and simultaneously engages both.

With this shutter the iris diaphragm in common use may be employed whenfound desirable.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In combination with the exposuremechanism of a photographic shutter a pivotal master-lever formed withtwo branches at either end, each branch having an operatingterminal, andmeans for turning said masterlever on its bearing, substantially asshown and described.

2. A photographic shutter comprising a pivotal spring-actuatedmaster-lever, an ac tuating-lever for the master-lever, a pair ofclosing blades and an exposure-lever for controlling them, theexposure-lever and the master-lever having di rectly-engagingprojections, substantially as shown and described.

3. In combination with the exposure mech anism of a photographicshutter, an eccentrically-pivoted pivotal master-lever, and aneccentrically-pivoted actuating-lever to engage and move themaster-lever, the bearing of the actuating-lever upon the master-leverbeing adapted to shift as to area during the movements of said levers,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In combination with the exposure mechanism of a photographic shuttera masterlever to operate the-exposure mechanism, and an actuating-leverfor controlling the masterlever, and a controlling-spring common to bothlevers, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In combination with the exposure mechanism of a photographic shuttera masterlever to operate the exposure mechanism, and

' an actuating-lever for controlling the masterlever, and acontrolling-spring having one branch engaging the master-lever andanother branch engaging the actuating-lever, substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

6. The combination, in a photographic shutter, with the exposuremechanism, of a springactuated master-lever, and an actuating-lever forthe master-lever, and an exterior thumblever to operate theactuating-lever coaxial with said actuating-lever, substantially as andfor the purpose specified.

7. In combination with the exposure mechanism of a photographic shutter,a pivotal master-lever having branched end and adapted for operating theexposure mechanism, and an actuating-lever held to turn either way onits bearing and adapted to move the master-lever when turning in onedirection and to pass it unaffected when turning in the other direction,the master-lever being adapted to escape from the actuating-lever whenboth are moving together, substantially as shown and described.

8. In a photographic shutter a pair of closing blades, a master-leveradapted to turn either way upon its bearing, an exposurelever forcontrolling the closing blades, the master-lever being adapted to movethe exposure-leverwhen turning in one direction and to pass withoutmoving it when turning it in the other direction, and means foractuating the master-lever, said master-lever and actuating-lever beingeccentrically pivoted to form a shiftable bearing between them,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

9. In a photographic shutter a pair of coacting closing blades lappingacross each other and across a diametrical line of the exposure-opening,each blade being held upon a pivot bearing on the side of saiddiametrical line opposite from that occupied by the body of the blade,and means for turning said blades upon their bearings, substantially asshown and described.

10. A photographic shutter having a pair of coacting blades crossingeach other and a diametrical line of the exposure-opening, each bladebeing held upon a pivot bearing on the side of said diametrical lineopposite that occupied by the body of the blade, and an actuator forsaidblades having a bearing upon each of the latter between saidpivot-bearings, and means for moving said actuator, substantially asshown and described.

11. A photographic shutter having a pair of closing blades lappingacross each other, each held at one end upon a fixed pivotal bearing,and a stop for said blades at the ends opposite said pivotal bearings,and means for op erating said blades, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

12. In combination with the exposure mechanism of a photographicshutter, a master-lever for operating the exposure mechanism and anactuating-lever for the master-lever, a spring-controlled sway-armadapted to be engaged by the actuating-lever and to engage themaster-lever, said sway-arm being held pivotally independent of thelever mechanism, and means for operating the actuating lever,substantially as shown and described.

13. In combination with the exposure mechanism of a photographicshutter, a master-leverfor operating the exposure mechanism and anactuating-lever for tie master-lever, a spring-controlled sway-armadapted to be engaged by the actuating-lever and to engage themaster-lever, the engagement of the swayarm by the actuating-lever andof the master-lever by the sway-arm being alternated, substantially asshown and described.

14. In combination with the exposure mechanism of a photographicshutter, a master-lever for operating the exposure mechanism and anactuating-lever for the master-lever, a spring-controlled sway-armadapted to be engaged by the actuating-lever and to engage themaster-lever, the actuating-lever causing the sway-arm to move twiceduring the operation of making an exposure, with interval between, andthe action of the sway-arm upon the master-lever being between said twomove ments of the sway-arm, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

15. In combination with the exposure mech anism of a photographicshutter, a master-lever for operating the exposure mechanism and anactuating lever for the master lever, adapted to move the lattertemporarily and release it, and a spring-pressed sway-arm controlled bythe actuating'lever adapted to engage and detain the master-lever afterreleased by the actuating-lever, and means for operating theactuating-lever, substantially as shown and described.

16. In combination with the exposure 1nechanism of a photographicshutter, a master-lever and an actuating-lever to move the master-lever,a sway-arm having a projection to engage the master-lever, a spring tocontrol the sway arm, the actuating lever being adapted to move thesway-arm against the action of the spring to disengage the masterlever,substantially as shown and described.

17. In combination with the exposure mechanism of a photographicshutter, a master-1e ver and an actuating-lever to move themaster-lever, a sway-arm having a projection to engage the master-lever,a spring to control the sway arm, the actuating lever being adapted tomove the sway-arm against the action of the spring to disengage themasterlever, the actions of the actuatinglever upon the sway-arm beingalternated, substantially as set forth.

18. In combination with the exposure mechanism of a photographicshutter, a master-lever, and an actuating-lever adapted to move eitherway upon its bearing, a sway-arm having a projection to engage themaster-lever, and a spring to control the sway-arm, the actuating-leverbeing adapted to move the master-lever while turning in one directionand to move the sway-arm While turning in the opposite direction,substantially as set forth.

19. The exposure mechanism of a photographic shutter in combination witha master-lever, an actuating-lever to control the master-lever, aprimarysway-arm in position to engage the master-lever and to be engaged by theactuating-lever, a secondary swayarm adapted to engage the master-leverand be disengaged therefrom by the actuating-lever, and means foroperating the actuatinglever, substantially as shown and described.

20. The exposure mechanism of a photographic shutter in combination witha master-lever, and an actuating-lever, a primary and a secondarysway-arm copivotal and held to act independent of the lever mechanism,said sway-arms both being adapted to engage the master-lever and to becontrolled by the actuating-lever, and means to operate the latter,substantially as set forth.

21. A photographic shutter comprising a master-lever and anactuating-lever to control the master-lever, a pair of closing bladesand an exposurelever for controlling the closing blades, and a sway-armadapted to control the master-lever, the latter being intermediatebetween said. sway-arm and the exposure-lever and simultaneouslyengaging both, and means for operating the actuatinglever, substantiallyas specified.

22. In combination with the exposure mechanism of a photographic shuttera master-lever and an actuating-lever to control the master-lever,andcopivotal spring-actuated swayarms to engage the master-lever and beengaged by the actuating-lever, and a shiftable stop-pin for controllingthe sway-arms, and means for operating the actuating-lever,substantially as set forth.

23. The exposure mechanism of a photographic shutter in combination witha master-lever and a coacting actuating-lever, a primary and a secondarysway-arm held to turn independent of the lever mechanism, said sway-armsbeing copivotal and adapted to engage the master-lever and be controlledby the actuating-lever, and means for operating the latter,substantially as set forth.

24:. In combination with the exposure mechanism of a photographicshutter, a masterlever and an actuating-lever for engaging and movingthe master-lever, both of said levers being eccentrically pivoted ondifferent pivots, the bearing between said levers being adapted to ceaseor terminate while moving, substantially as described and shown.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 18th day ofJanuary, 19-01, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANDREW WOLLENSAK,

Witnesses:

ENos l3. WHITMORE, M. B. SMITH.

DlSGLAIMEB- 679,l3et.-Andm w Wollensalr, Rochester, N. Y. PHOTOGRAPHICSHUTTER. P atent dated July 23, 1901. Diselaimer filed November 22,1911,by the assignee,

Wollensaic Optical Company.

Enters this disclaimer- To the following claims of said Letters Patent,2, 3, 8, 12, 13, 14:, 15, 16, 17, 18,

21, and 2 1.

[OFFICIAL GAZETTE, December 5, 1911.]

l ll ll llll llllllll ll DISCLAIMER- L 67 9,13-1.-Andrew llwlensak,Rochester, N. Y. PHOTOGRAPHIO SHUTTER. Patent dated July 23, 1901.Diselaimer filed Nevember 22, 1911, by the assignee,

l l ollenlsal"v Optical Company.

Enters this disclaimer To the following claims of said Letters Patent,2, 3, 8, 12, 13, 14;, 15, 16, 17, 18,

21, and 24.

[OFFICIAL GAZETTE, December 5, 1911.]

Disclaimer in Letters Patent No. 679,134,

